Automatic railway-switch.



A. A. MOORE.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 29, 1909. l 57399:, Patented May 1o, 1910.

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IN VEN TOR N1 IG.

WITNESSES ANDREW a GRAHAM C0.. PNOTQLWNOGRAPMEHS, WASmNGTmL D, c

A. A. MUORE. AUTOMATIG RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1909.

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IN VEN TOR WITNESSES A TTORNE V3 FFQ.

ALANSON A. MOORE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented May 10, 1910.

Application filed May 29, 1909. Serial No. 499,148.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALANsoN A. MOORE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of `vVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved automatic railway switch, and its object is to provide an electrically controlled, mechanically operated automatic device for the purpose so constructed that the switch point will be operated by mechanical means positively actuated by a passing car, and the operation of said means will be controlled by electrical operating means under the control of the switchman, motorman, engineer or other person.

To this end the invention consists in providing a member adapted to be engaged and operated by a car wheel, the actuation of which member operates to alternately throw the switch point from one track to the other, and in providing means for holding said member out of the path of the wheel which neans is electrically operated to release the member.

The invention further consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of railway having a switch operated by means embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the same; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the casing and showing the operating mechanism in plan view; Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line 1 -4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of a portion of the operating mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 1, 1 represents the rails of the main track and 2 the rails of the branch track or siding, 3 being the ordinary form of switch aoint pivoted at 4 to shift across the space between the main rail and the guard rail 5 to direct the car wheels from the main track onto the siding. Located beneath the rail 1 at the switch A oint side of the track and at a distance from said point, is a. suitable casing 6 in the top of which is provided a suitable recess to receive an operating bar 7 which is pivoted at one end to the casing within the recess to swing upward between the main rail 1 and its guard rail 5. The top of the casing is also provided with a bearing for a vertically movable pin 8 adapted to engage the lower side of the operating bar at its free end and raise said bar to substantially the level of the top of the rails so that the liange of a car wheel passing along the rail will engage said bar and depress the same forcing 'the pin 8 downward in its bearing. To the lower end of the pin 8 is pivotally att-ached by means of a bolt 9, the downwardly hanging push rod 10 adapted to engage at its lower end suitable blocks or tables 11 carried by the laterally extending arms 12 on the bell crank levers 13 which bell cranks are pivoted at 14 to a suitable support 15 on the casing.

The upwardly extending arms 16 of th'e bell cranks are provided at their upper ends with openings through which extends a fixed rod 17 mounted in bearings in the sides of the casing. The bar or lever 1S is pivoted at one end to the rear wall of the casing by a pin 19 passing through an eye in the end of the bar and at its opposite end is provided with an opening through which the rod 17 extends, said opening being of considerably greater diameter than the diameter of the rod to permit the bar 18 to swing upon its pivot 19. To the forward end of the bar 18 is secured a downwardly extending guide arm 20 provided with a laterally bent lower end having an opening through which the push rod 10 extends. Sleeved upon the fixed rod 17 between the arms 16 of the bell canks and the forward end of the bar 18 are coiled springs 21 to yieldingly shift the bar 1S from side to side when the bell cranks are operated by the engagementof the push rod with one of the tables 11 when the bar 7 is depressed by a car wheel. The shifting of this bar 1S from side to side, swings, by means of its arm 2.0, the lower end of the push rod 10 from over one of the tables into position over the other table and this shifting will be accomplished by one of the coiled springs after the push rod has reached the downward limit of its movement and the bell crank engaged thereby, fully turned, thus compressing the spring 21 engaging its upper end. As soon as the downward pressure of the push rod upon the table 11 is relieved so that said push rod will swing, said spring will force the bar 1S over until the pressure of the two springs 2l is equal, and this movement of the bar will swing the push rod from over the table 11 which has just been engaged thereby to a position over the table of the other bell crank. Stops 22 are provided upon the support 15 to limit this laterally swinging movement of the push rod 10.

Supported at one end in a suitable bearing on the casing 6 and at its opposite end in bearings 23 on the lower side of the bed plate 24 of the switch point, is a shaft 25 extending longitudinally beneath the track rail 1. An arm 26 secured to the end of the shaft engages at its upper end a socket 27 in the lower side of the switch point at a distance from its pivot, and secured to the opposite end of said shaft within the casing 6 is a rocker 2S to the ends of which rods 29 are pivotally attached, the lower ends of said rods being pivotally secured at 30 to the tables 11 of the bell cranks.

Sleeved upon the push rod 10 between the laterally extending end of the arm 2O through which the rod extends, and the lower end of the pin 8, is a coiled spring 31 which exerts a force to normally hold the pin raised in its bearing and the operating bar 7 lifted into position to be engaged by the flange of a car wheel. Upon the lower end of the pin 3 is a shoulder 32 adapted to be engaged by a slide 33 supported in suitable ways 34 on the casing. This slide is pivotally connected by means of a rod 35 with the end of the armature 3G of the electro-magnets 37 which are supported in suitable position within the casing 6. The spring 33 which normally holds the armature away from the magnets Aalso holds the slide 33 in contact with the pin so that when said pin is depressed sufficient-ly to bring its shoulder 32 below the plane of the slide, said slide will be projected over the shoulder and effectually lock the pin in its lowered position so that cars may pass along the track without operating the switch point. Conductors 39 lead from binding posts on the magnet frame to suitable contacts l() located at any convenient point along the track where they may be engaged by a circuit closer 4:1 carried by or operated from a car moving along the track. These contacts may, however, be located in any other desired place and the circuit closer operated by a switchman, or other person not upon the car nor necessarily, near the track. 7When the circuit closer is arranged to be operated from the car, it will be under control of the motorman or engineer so that he may operate it as desired.

Vhen the parts are in the positions shown with the bar 7 raised, a car passing along the track will engage said bar and depress the pin 8. This downward movement of the pin carries the push rod 10 against the act-ion of the spring 31 into engagement with the raised table 11 on one of the bell cranks and said bell crank will be turned on its pivot thereby. The turning of the bell crank, will rock the shaft 25 by means of the connecting rod 29, and throw the switch point 3. The engagement of the lower end of the push Yrod 10 with the table 11 will prevent the bar 13 and its guide arm 20 from moving laterally, but the spring 21 between said bar and rthe arm of the bell crank engaged by the rod will be compressed. The slide 33 will engage the shoulder 32 when the pin 8 is fully depressed and hold said pin in its lowered position and the operating bar 7 wil-l be lowered out of the path of the car wheel. The switch point 3 being thus shifted, and the operating bar 7 lowered, the main track is clear for the passage of cars without operating any of the mechanism.

lVhen it is desired to again throw the switch point to the position shown in Fig. 1, the operator will cause the circuit closer 41 to engage the contacts 40 and close the circuit of the magnets which will thus be energized and will draw toward them their armature 36, thus moving the slide 33 out of engagement with the shoulder 32 and releasiiw Vthe pin S so that it will be at once lifted by the spring 31 into a position to be operated by the car wheel. As soon as the pin 8 is released the spring 2l which was put under tension by the rocking of the bell crank, will at once force the bar 18 laterally and swing the push rod 10 into position over the table on the other bell crank, which table was raised by the rocker 28 when the same was Yturned by the depressing of the pin 3. The car wheel now coming into contact with the bar 7 will again depress the pin 8 and the push rod will be forced into contact with the table v1l which was not engaged thereby upon the previous operation of the device, and thus the rocker 28 will be rocked by said bell crank in the opposite direction and the switch point will be returned to the position shown in F ig. 1. As before, the pin 3 will be locked by the slide 33 in its lower position and thus the switch point will be held in the position to which it is turned until the pin 8 is again released by the closing of the circuit 39.

In this construction the switch point is positively operated by means actuated by the pressure of the car wheel passing along the track and when so operated is held in the position to which it is moved with the track clear for the passage of cars along the same. lhen it is again desired to throw the switch point the mechanism is released by the electro-magnet and automatically moves into position to be engaged and operated by the car wheel. Very little power is required to operate this releasing mechanism and electro-magnets or other electrically operated mechanism are therefore especially adapted 'for the purpose.

Having thus ful-ly described my invention what I claim is:

l. In a device of the character described, mechanically operated means for throwing the switch point comprising a member adapted to be actuated by a car moving along the track, and electrically operated means for holding said member out ot position to be operated by the car and adapted to release the same to permit its operation.

2. In a device of the character described, mechanically operating means adapted to be actuated by a car and to throw the switch point first in one direction and upon its next actuation by the car, to throw the switch point in the opposite direction, and electrically operated means for holding the switch point in the position to which it has last been thrown and for releasing the same to permit its operation.

3. In a device of the character described, mechanically operated means for controlling the switch point comprising a member adapted to be actuated by a car and means for transmitting motion from said member to alternately throw the switch point irst in one direction and upon its next operation, to throw the switch point in the opposite direction, means for holding the switch point in the position to which it has last been thrown, and electrically operated means for actuating said holding means to release the switch point.

4. In a device of the character described, mechanically operating means for throwing the switch peint comprising a member adapted to be engaged and depressed by a car passing along the track, means `for transmitting motion from said member to throw the switch point, means 'for locking said member in its depressed position, and means for actuating the locking means to release said member.

5. In a device of the character described, mechanically operating means for throwing the switch point, comprising' a member adapted to be engaged and depressed by a car passing along the track, means for transmitting motion from said member to throw the switch point, means for locking said member, and an electro-magnet for actuating the locking means to release said member.

6. In a device of the character described, mechanically operating means for throwing the switch point in one direction and a separate member adapted to be moved to throw the switch point in the other direction, a member adapted to be operated by a ear passing along the track to actuate said members, and means whereby the car actuated iember will alternately operate said memers.

7. In a device of the character described, a member adapted to be operated by a passing car, a member adapted to be actuated to throw the switch point in one direction, a separate member adapted to be actuated to throw the switch point in the opposite direction, means actuated by the movement of the car operated member to engage and operate said members, and means for shifting said means into position to engage the other of said operating members after the act .ation of one of said members.

8. In a device of the character described, mechanically operating mechanism for throwing a switch point, comprising a vertically movable member adapted to be actuated by a passing car, a swinging menibcr attached to said member, a` rocker for turning the switch point, means connected to each end of the rocker adapted to be engaged by the swinging member, and means for swinging said member to bring the same into engagement with iirst one and then the other ot' said means carried by the rocker.

9. In a device of the character described, mechanism for mechanically throwing the switch point comprising a member adapted to be actuated by the passing car, a rocker to throw the switch point, members connected to the ends of said rocker, a shiftable member connected to and operated by the car operated member, and means operated by the movement of said members to move said shiftable member into position to engage first one and then the other of said members.

10. A device of the character described comprising movable members adapted to throw the switch point in opposite directions, a member adapted to be actuated by a passing car, a swinging member carried by the car operated member adapted to engage and operate said movable members, and a spring adapted to be put under tension by the actuation of one of the members to shift the swinging member into position to engage the other member upon its next actuation.

11. A. device of the character described, comprising a rocker, bell cranks connected to the ends of said rocker, a member adapted to be actuated by the car, means attached to the car operated member to engage and alternately actuate the bell cranks, and means actuated by the bell cranks for shifting the means carried by the car operated member.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a member adapted to be actuated by a passing car, a rocker to shift the switch point, bell cranks, one arm of each of which is connected to one end of the rocker a swinging member carried by the car operated member adapted to engage and operate the bell cranks, and an arm to swing said swinging member operated by the other arms of the bell cranks.

13. A device of the character described, comprising a member adapted to be actuated by a passing car, a swinging member carried by said car actuated member, bell cranks adapted to be turned by said swinging' men1- ber to throw the switch point, an arm engaging the swinging member to swing the same, and springs interposed between said arm and the arms of the bell cranks.

14. A device of the character described,

Ycomprising a member adapted to be moved in one direction by a car, a spring to move the same in the opposite direction, means for locking said member in its position to which it is moved by the car, a rocker for shifting the switch point, a shiftable member actuated by the car operated member, members engaged by the shiftable member to turn the rocker, an arm to shift the shiftable member, and a spring to actuate the arm when the car operated member is released by its locking means.

15. A device of the character described, comprising a vertically movable member adapted to be actuated by a car, a rocker to actuate the switch point, bell cranks the lower arm of each of which is connected to one end of said rocker, a swinging member carried by the car operated member and adapted to operate the bell cranks, an arm engaging the swinging member to shift the same, and springs interposed between said arm and the upper arms of said bell cranks.

16. A device of the character described, comprising a member adapted to be actuated by a car, a rocker to shift the switch point, pivoted bell cranks, tables on the lower arms of said bell cranks arranged to swing adjacent to each other, a push rod carried by the car operated member and adapted to engage said tables at its lower end and turn the bell cranks, a rod connecting each of the tables with one end of the rocker, and means operated by the movement of the bell cranks for shifting the push rod from one to the other of said tables.

17. A device of the character described, comprising a rock shaft to actuate the switch point, a rocker on one end of the shaft, a member adapted to be depressed by a passing car, a member carried by each tion, electrically operated means for releasing the car operated member, and means operating upon the release of said member to shift the shifting means from engagement with one of the members carried by the rocker into position to engage the other member carried by said rocker.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member adapted to be actuated by a passing car, a rock shaft to actuate the switch point, shiftable means carried by the car operated member, bell cranks pivoted with their lower arms eX- tending laterally toward each other and provided with means adapted to be engaged by the shiftable means, a pivoted arm engaging the shifting means to move the same and extending between the upwardly eX- tending arms of the bell cranks, and a. spring at each side of the arm interposed between said arm and the upper ends of the adjacent arms of the bell cranks.

19. The combination of a track having a pivoted switch point, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the track and provided with an arm to engage and operate the switch point, a casing beneath the track, a rocker within the casing on the end of the rock shaft, a bearing in the top of the casing for a vertically movable member, a bar piv oted at one end to the casing and resting at its opposite end upon the vertically movable member, means within the casing for transmitting motion from the vertically movable member to the rocker to rock the shaft and alternately throw the switch point in one direction and then the other, means within the casing for locking the vertically movable member to prevent its operation and the throwing of the switch point, an electrical circuit, means within said circuit to operate the locking means, and a circuit closer within the circuit.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALANSON A. MOORE. lVitnesses OTTO F. BARTHEL, ANNA M. DoRR. 

